Carl (Kobie) Davis Kobler, Jr.
https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/Carl-Kobie-Davis-Kobler-Jr?obId=27927336#/obituaryInfo
June 3, 1950 - April 24, 2023
Carl D. Kobler, Jr (Kobie), 72, peacefully passed away on April 24, 2023 at Saint Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri. His health had been steadily declining the past few years, then very recently was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia, which he quickly succumbed to.
Kobie was born on June 3, 1950 to Dr. Carl D. Kobler, and Elma H. Kobler, in Kansas City, Kansas. He was the third of four children born to this family. He was preceded in death by both his parents, and oldest brother, Kevin Kobler. He is survived by his wife, Joan Roan (Olathe, KS), his sons, Jamie Dowis (Hays, KS), Jeremy Kobler (Kansas City, MO), and Chris Kobler (Kansas City, MO), grandchildren Jade Dowis, Shandra Kobler, Jace Kobler, and Hudson Kobler, sister Karen Kobler-Peek (Warrensburg MO), brother John Kobler (Derby, KS), and six nephews.
During Kobie’s early years, the family lived for brief periods in California, Idaho, Kansas, then Massachusetts, before moving back to Hill City, Kansas when he was a sixth grader. Kobie claimed Kansas as his home, and simply loved small town-country living.
He attended both grade school and high school in Hill City, where he graduated in May, 1 968. While in high school, Kobie participated in sports, lettering in football and wrestling. He was also a talented vocalist, who very much enjoyed singing in the high school choir, and men’s quartet. Kobie often performed as a soloist, and participated in school sponsored music clinics in Hays as well.
Throughout those early years, you might find him running around with buddies (yep, a little mischief there), or catch him playing snooker at the local pool hall. Otherwise he was quite possibly out hunting or fishing somewhere in Graham County. Both became lifelong hobbies, as did vegetable gardening, which he learned from his folks.
After graduating high school, Kobie was in and out of college. Being undecided on a field of study, he opted instead to try his hand at a variety of vocations, including oil field roughneck, working as a lab tech at his dad’s medical clinic, and later became a licensed journeyman electrician.
During that stretch of years, it was no secret to those close to Kobie, he battled his own demons with drug addiction. A very costly struggle. Yet by the Grace of God, ultimately he won that battle, and overcame. Kobie became heavily involved with the NA (Narcotics Anonymous) organization. Along with sharing his own experience regularly at local meetings, he became well known as an Area Committee member, was guest speaker at Mid-America Regional Conferences, as well as representing the Mid-America Region as a Delegate to the World Service Conference (WSC) in Van Nuys, CA. In part, the delegates convened to determine policy for the fellowship as a whole. Without question, that amount of dedication helped him remain clean and sober from 1985, until his passing.
Add to that, Kobie eventually returned to college, and in 1991 he received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saint Mary of the Plains, Dodge City. Furthering his study, he earned a master's degree in clinical psychology in 1996, from Emporia State University. This formal education provided the pathway for Kobie’s future work in the mental health profession. But in his own words, it was his life experience and ongoing participation in the NA that allowed him to more effectively help countless individuals and families deal with substance abuse.
Although Kobie stuck with those hobbies started in his younger years, he added cooking in there at some point. Like so many of us, he really enjoyed spectator sports, was a huge fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, and KU Jayhawk Basketball. He often tuned in with friends and family, sometimes getting a little chippy when watching those games. Yeah ok, that was an understatement! As a friend of his recently put it, Kobie had his opinions and, like it or not, he was more than willing to share them. Didn’t matter if it was sports, politics, religion, or whatever. Kobie was always rather salty around the edges. Yet he charmed many, cherished his friendships, and through it all, was a deeply compassionate man.
He really loved and cared for his wife Joan, and their sweet little dog Millie. In the end, what he yearned for most was spending time with his sons and grandkids.
He wanted to experience so much more of that, but his time came to an end when his Maker called him home. We’re so comforted knowing Kobie’s at peace, yet no doubt we’ll miss him dearly.
Funeral services for Kobie will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 26, at the United Methodist Church in Hill City, Kansas. Interment to follow at the Hill City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the N/A, or to a charity of your choice in Kobie’s name, Carl D. Kobler, Jr.